Politics & Government

Japan FM Yoko Kamikawa: AI Guidelines to be Shared Beyond G7; Calls to Protect Intellectual Property, Rediscover Print Culture

The Yomiuri Shimbun

15:35 JST, February 15, 2024

The government wants to share with more nations the results of the Hiroshima AI Process initiated by Japan last year to address the challenges posed by generative artificial intelligence, Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa has told The Yomiuri Shimbun.

In last Friday’s exclusive interview, Kamikawa said that, as part of a cultural diplomacy push, she intends to actively engage in efforts that protect the rights of creators. Given the rapid development of generative AI, Kamikawa reiterated a plan to expand the results of the Hiroshima AI Process to nations outside the Group of Seven major economies, and to encourage international cooperation on this issue.

The G7 agreed in December a set of international guidelines based on the Hiroshima AI Process that cover those connected to generative AI from developers to users. Kamikawa accepted that creators had raised strong concerns about issues including violations of their intellectual property rights.

“These international guidelines specifically mention the protection of an individual’s data and intellectual property,” Kamikawa said during the interview, which was conducted at the Foreign Ministry. “They also contribute to protecting creators’ rights.”

Kamikawa added that she was determined to convey information about the thinking behind the Hiroshima AI Process to other nations in a bid to gain their support for this initiative. “I’ll work on efforts to bring AI that is safe, secure and reliable to fruition,” Kamikawa said.

The minister also recognized that generative AI had good and bad points. “While it makes international information transmission easy, it also heightens the risk of information manipulation, such as by spreading disinformation,” she said.

Observers have pointed out that generative AI has a range of risks, such as the creation of sophisticated voice recordings and text that could be used to commit fraud as well as manipulating public opinion by flooding the internet with disinformation.

“People must broaden the range of their sources of information, and rediscover the utility of print culture, such as newspapers and books, so they don’t get misled by disinformation and can exercise good judgment,” Kamikawa said.

During the interview, Kamikawa revealed that when she travels abroad, she visits bookstores if time allows and buys several books. She explained that this also was a useful way to boost cultural diplomacy.

“A nation’s history and culture, and the interests of its people, are condensed in its bookstores. These shops also help me learn how Japanese culture is being accepted in other countries,” Kamikawa said.